Control for engine starters



Dec, 14, 1926. 1,610,876

F. A. MEEKER CONTROL FOR ENGINE STARTERS Filed Nov, 16 1925 PatentedDec. 14, 1926.

Nrran STATES FAYE A. IMEEKER, OF UTICA, NEW YORK.

CONTROL FOR ENGINE STARTERS.

Application iled November 16, 1925. Serial No. 69,531.

This invention relates to means for controlling the startingot internal.combustion engines, particularly of the type employed for propellingautomobiles that a-re equipped with the well-known self-starters.

The primary object of the invention is to provide novel and simplemechanical means for preventing the operation of the selfstarter exceptwhen the spark is retarded,

for obviating the danger of the engine backbolt, the latter beingreciprocated by firing. A further Objectis to provide a split hollowbody, between the sections of which is clamped a relatively limp andflexible diaphragm, with which is associated a locking parts havingdirect connection with the lever that controls the timer, and by whichthe spark may be advanced or retarded by the driver, at will, in awell-known manner; the said body preferably being mounted upon oradjacent the self-starter, and the locking bolt being movable across thepath of the primary starting members, as for example, the usual startinglever common to self-starters, for preventing the operation of thestarter, in case the timer lever is set for advancing the spark. And afurther object is to provide means for releasing the locking bolt andfor holding the said bolt inoperative as long` applied; the latter beingindicated by broken lines. Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear-end elevaA tion ofthe stopping device, showing the bellcrank that controls the .lockingmovements of the bolt. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached side 'view of theself-starter in connection with a portion of the auxiliary gear case,and a rear-end view of my device. Fig. 4 is a top-plan view of thelookin device illustrated in Fig. 5, showing the ell-crank-in thereleased and` operated position. Fig. 5 is a front end view of the same.Fig. 6 is an enlarged top-plan. view of the parts shown .in Fig. 3, thefull lines showing the locking bolt and related parts in the idleposition. And Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section, taken on line7-7 of. Fig. 5, showing the tension means for-holding the locking boltin the released position;'-'also 1showing the means for. projecting thebolt across-'the path of the starting-lever by the'operation of theignition 'retarding mechanism.

In the drawing, 2 represents generally an internal combustion engine oi.a well-known type, 3 the main gear casing, and 3 the portion of thecasing that usually houses the shiftable startinggear, by which theengine is set in motion by a starter 4. The starter 4 may be of anysuitable design or make, and usually comprises an inclosed electricmotor (not shown), which in the present case is controlled by a switchmember 4. 5 represents the primary starting lever, which is pivoted tothe starter casing by a bolt 5', and is movable in the path of andoperates the switch member 4 by means of a rod f5", by the depressing ofa pedal 5a. In practice, the pedal 5 is usually disposed beneath thedash of the automobile, and is de ressed by the drivers foot, forstarting t e engine,l The lower end of the lever 5 usually extends intothe casing 3 and shifts the starting gear or pinion ina vwell-knownmanner, into and out of mesh with the mainv gear, which connects withthe crankshaft of the engine. In Figs. 1 and 6, the full lines show thelever 5 and related parts in the released position. The inclined dottedlines in Fig. 3 indicate the operated position of said lever.

My self-starter controlling mechanism comprises a split hollow body,consisting of similar concave' sections 6-6, between which -is disposeda relatively limp and flexible diaphragm 7, preferably made of leather,whlch is held in place by bolts 6, that pass through -the sections 6 6and tightly clamp said parts together, as shown in Figs. 4, Sand 7 Thediaphragm 7 divides the interiorfof the body into chambers 6b-6e,theformer being vented by means of a pipe 8, and the' latter chamber beingvented lby an opening 8, for facilitating the flexing of the diaphragm.Sections 6 6 are bored axially to receive a recipro-z cable lockingvbolt 9, whose opposite ends preferably extend beyond the outer -facesof the sections. `The bolt 9 is preferably formed with a medial flange9', which overlays one face of the diaphragm, to which it is rigidlyclamped by bolts 7a. A reinforcing disc 9a is mounted upon the reverseface of the diaphragm and is also held in place by the bolts 7a. Whenthe bolt 9 is -in the released position shown in Figs. 1

' in Fig. 7.

and 6, its forward end 9b is preferably positioned a small fraction ofan inch forwardly' and clear of the starting lever 5 (see Figs. 1 and7), in readiness at the slightest outward movement or thrust of thebolt, to be projected across the path of the said lever, forpreventngits movement towards the switch member 4', by thedepressng of the pedal5. The bolt 9.is moved in the direction for intercepting or locking thelever 5by means of a bell-crank 10, which is pivoted between lugs 10',by a pin 10a.

his movement. of the bolt 9 correspondingly ilexes the diaphragm 7 asshown by dotted lines in Fig. 7. The bolt and diaphragm are moved in theopposite direction, for freein the lever 5, by a spring 12, which iscarrie by said bolt; the said spring being supported and maintained atsuitable tension by the flange 9 and the end wall of the section 6 ofthe body, as best seen The bell-crank 10 is so disposed that the arm 10normally bears against the projecting rear-end of the bolt 9, when theparts are in the released position (see full lines Figs. 4 and .6). Thebell-crank is rocked towards and away from the bolt, by means of a rod13, one end of which -is pivoted to the arm 10d of the bell-crank` whileits other end is pivoted to the operating lever, as 14', of the usualtimer 14, as shown in Fig. 1. The bell-crank is arranged to be rocked inthe plane of the axis of the bolt 9, and during the locking operationits arm 10c forces and holds end 9b of the bolt extended between theswitch member 4 and the lever 5, against the tension of spring 12. Thetimer 14 may be of any suitable make, and according to the showing inFig. 1, the lever 14 is moved towards the left and right for retardingand advancing the ignition, by means of a rockable connect-ion 15, whichconnects with the lever 14 by a rod or link 15'. The connection 15 isusually operated by a lever carried by the steering-wheel (not shown) ina well-known manner. The full lines in Figs. v1, 3, 4 and 7 show thelever 14. the bell-crank 10 and related parts, in position for retardingthe spark, and when the said parts are so positioned, the driver of theautomobile mayl depress the pedal 5 and rock the lever 5 in thedirection for starting the engine. without any interference by mylocking device. When, however, the level' 144of the timer, and thebell-crank 10 are shifted to the dotted positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4and 7, and to the full line position of Fig. 6, the bolt 9 is disposedacross the path of the lever 5 and prevents the operat1on of thestarterV 4, until the driver retards the spark, as explained.

The safety device of my pending application has for its object toprevent the stripping of the starting gears by the operation of theself-starter-while the engine is run-f ning, and is controlledautomatically by vacuum created by the engine pistons, through asuitable connection, as pipe 8, that provides unrestricted communicationbetween the body of the device and the intake manifold, indicated at 16in Fig. 1, and wherein the said vacuum tends to move and hold thelocking bolt across the path oi the starter lever, as long as the engineis running. It is obvious that the said means for actuating the lockingbolt by vacuum of my pending application 'and the independentl means foroperating the said bolt shown and described herein, may be com-V binedin a single device, as shown in Fig. 1', and each of said means mayperform its functions without interference from the other actuatingmeans.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, 1s-

1. A device to prevent starting of an internal combustion engine whenthe ignition controlling mechanism is set for advancing thespark,`comprising a hollow body disposed adjacent the self-starter, alockino' bolt reciprocable in and through said ody adapted to beautomatically moved across the path of the self-starter lever whenl theignition controlling means is moved for ladvancing the spark and tensionmeans to move said bolt out oi' engagement with the starting lever whenthe spark is retarded.

2. A device for controlling the starting of engines including aself-starter lever, a hollow body disposed adjacent the starter lever,automatic locking means reciprocable in and through said body across thepath of the sta'rter lever to prevent operation of the same when theignition spark is advanced, means to prevent operation of the lever whenthe engine is running and means for releasing the locking means when theignition spark is retarded to start the engine.

3. A device of the character described, including a self-starter leverand an ignition controlling lever, locking means disposed between saidlevers adapted to move across the path of the starter lever to preventoperation of same when the ignition spark 1s advanced, vacuum operatedmeans adapted to prevent operation of the starter lever when the engineis running and means to release the start lever when the ignition sparkis retarded whereby to start the engine.

4. A gas engine controlling mechanism including a self-starter lever, ahollow body, locking means disposed within and reciprolocking meansacross the path of the starting lever to prev'ent operation of the samewhen the engine is running.

5. In a control for, gas engine starters, a starter lever, a hollowbody, vacuum actuated means disposed within said body, a boltreciprocable through said body across the path of the starter leverbythe vacuum actuated means when the engine is running, and meansadapted to move said bolt across the path ofthe lever when the engine isidle upon the advancing of the gnition 'spark whereby to preventstartingl of the englne when' the ignition spark is 1n the advancedposition.

6. 1n a control for gas Vengines including a' self-starter lever, areciprocable bolt, means whereby to automatically move said bolt acrossthe path of the self-starter lever to prevent actuation of the same whenthe ignition vspark is advanced and automatic means to move said bolt toan inoperative position lto permit starting of the engine when theignition spark is retarded.

7. A device of the character cluding a self-starter lever and anignition controlling lever, locking means disposed between said leversadapted to move across the path of the starter lever to prevent oeration of same when the ignition spark is a vanced, automatic meansadapted 'to prevent operation of the starter lever when the engine isrunning and means to release. the starter described, in-

lever when the i itionspark is retarded whereby to start t e engine.

n testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

FAYE A. MEEKER.

